The circuit works as intended when the resistive load is greater than 3 ohms. (running from single supply)

Show us a detailed wiring diagram/photo of how the grounds are connected, what gauge the wires are, and what cap you have on the output of the voltage regulator and the PIC power pin.
Schematics are easier to read if you follow certain conventions. One of them is to always have ground symbols point down. You have the source and drain reversed of the MOSFET reversed. The source should be grounded, otherwise the parasitic diode would always be conducting. And it's drawn sideways.
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